Leicester 2-0 Watford: Jamie Vardy’s brace settles nerves as league-leading Foxes overcome stubborn visitors to extend their advantage at the top of the Championship table

Leicester returned to victory at the top of the Championship thanks to Jamie Vardy’s late double, which quashed any previous suspicions that the league leaders were about to be dragged into a battle for automatic promotion.

Vardy started the afternoon on the bench as Kelechi Iheanacho was favored up top, but ended the afternoon with two goals to his name, his second in stoppage time from the penalty spot.

The first bitter cold of the season was felt by both teams as they lethargically made their way through the opening substitutions. Leicester predictably controlled early possession, but it was goalkeeper Mads Hermansen who had most of the ball during a sedentary start.

Kelechi Iheanacho should have given the hosts the lead after he pounced on a misplaced back pass and went through on goal in the 9th minute. His touch was failing him, a light tug on his shirt didn’t help, but it was the initial loss of control that ruled out the attempt.

Watford striker Mileta Rajovic was the next to miss a golden opportunity when moments later he found himself in thin air trying to curl in a low cross from close range.

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Fluffy efforts led to action and a brilliant passing move left Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ready to celebrate as his cutback into a box dominated by three Leicester players crept over the six-yard line. Somehow no one managed to get a clean goal and Watford were given another reprieve.

The chances kept coming and unfortunately so did the misses, with Watford wastefully firing a threatening free-kick into the stands before Wilfried Ndidi was unsure whether to shoot or pass at the end of a powerful run from midfield. He decided for the latter and Kasey McAteer’s cross was cleared.

A clever set-piece move that led to Dewsbury-Hall firing an effort towards goal midway through the first half looked good but also ended up the wrong side of the post.

It wasn’t a lack of trying, the problem for Leicester was that they had too many players who wanted to play beautiful football instead of the ugliness that is sometimes necessary in the Championship.

Watford sat deep, as do most of the visiting sides coming to the King Power this season, and whether they were scorned or not, it was an effective tactic that frustrated the league leaders.

Leicester suffered back-to-back defeats in the run-up to the international break, having lost just three games all season and there was clear nervousness about another possible mistake if second-placed Ipswich played later in the day.

There were groans around the stadium as Iheanacho refused to put his head into a challenge that, had he won, would have put him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. McAteer showed more physicality in the minutes leading up to half-time with a header from the back post that troubled Daniel Bachmann before the ball was collected.

The final chance of the half was created and almost finished by centre-back Wout Faes, who found himself in unfamiliar territory when a one-two with Iheanacho put the Foxes defender in a shooting position, but his strike was blocked as the match progressed. goalless.

Nearly every Leicester outfield player had tried to force an opener when Ricardo Pereira tried to latch onto a driven ball in the penalty area early in the second half but failed to send it on target. Stephy Mavididi was the next to try as he received the ball on the turn in Watford’s penalty area but smashed his shot into the side netting.

So what do you do when your team creates every possible chance, but still can’t score? Bring on Jamie Vardy of course. However, even the Foxes veteran struggled to find the target as he pushed a relatively easy finish over the crossbar less than 10 minutes after coming on, but the hosts drew ever closer.

Dewsbury-Hall’s effectiveness began to wane ahead of a brilliant display of skill that led to his effort smashing the post in the 70th minute. Twenty minutes to find a winner and Vardy – having done so many times during his brilliant career – thought he had found it when the goal was gaping as he volleyed from six yards out, but on one or another way his shot went over the crossbar. He wouldn’t miss a third time.

The 36-year-old was awarded a free kick for his team after being knocked down by Edo Kayembe at the corner flag. It was Vardy who reacted quickest to Jannik Vestergaard’s towering header, which ultimately gave Leicester a deserved lead. He was lucky not to be sent off later in the match when he brought down Wesley Hoedt in front of the technical area.

Watford’s attack was non-existent in the second half but suddenly came alive in the dying embers of the match when Ryan Porteous was given space to take a shot towards goal, which was comfortably saved.

Late drama ensued when Vardy rounded Watford goalkeeper Bachmann and was brought down by the goalkeeper.

The Hornets captain was previously shown a yellow card for dissent and was sent off for a second bookable offense that forced Porteous into goal while the visitors had used up their permitted substitutions.

Vardy finished strongly and Leicester took a rather unspectacular three points, getting their season back on track.